Device for detecting and signaling a physical value when connected to a rim, and rim comprising such a device

Abstract

The invention is a device comprising a device for detecting and signaling a physical value when connected to a rim (1) in a position below a pneumatic tire mounted on the rim (1), and further comprising a device to discover a detachment of the device from the rim. The invention provides that the device to discover a detachment comprises a proximity sensor responsive to the rim (1).

Description

[0001]Applicant claims priority of Application number 103 16 705.6 filed on 4 Apr. 2003 filed with the German Patent and Trademark Office.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The invention relates to a device for detecting signaling a physical value of a rim.[0004]2. Description of Related Art[0005]A device of that kind has been known from WO 03 / 011617 A1. The device described in that publication especially serves for determining and signaling an acceleration encountered at the device, the air pressure and / or the temperature prevailing in a pneumatic tire mounted on the rim. Such a device, which will be described hereafter also as wheel sensor, usually determines the air pressure, acceleration values and / or the temperature at predetermined time intervals, and transmits them at predetermined time intervals equal or greater than the time intervals between the measurements, or else immediately when given threshold values are exceeded, to a receiver and evalua...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]A device according to the invention—hereinafter also described as wheel sensor—comprises a proximity sensor which is responsive to the rim. This provides considerable advantages.

[0011]Temperature, driving style and acceleration encountered at the wheel sensor do not impair the unambiguity of the output signal supplied by the proximity sensor.

[0012]A proximity sensor can be integrated into a conventional wheel sensor as an additional element without any difficulty.

[0015]While, basically, there is the possibility to use a proximity sensor which directly contacts the rim in a given mounting position of the wheel sensor, a proximity sensor that responds to the rim in non-contact fashion provides a more reliable and cheaper solution.

[0017]Suited as proximity sensors for the purposes of the invention are, above all, capacitive and inductive sensors. A capacitive proximity sensor can be formed by designing and arranging a first capacitor electrode in the wheel sensor in such a way that in the predetermined mounting position of the wheel sensor it will come to lie closely opposite the rim surface so that the rim acts as a second capacitor electrode which, together with the first capacitor electrode, forms a capacitor whose capacitance would vary strongly if the wheel sensor should drop off the rim. An especially favorable solution is obtained if the proximity sensor comprises two capacitors each of them having a first electrode in the wheel sensor and both of them using the rim as a common coupling electrode. This embodiment provides the advantage that well-defined electric potentials are encountered on the electrodes of the proximity sensor capacitors even without any direct electric connection between the wheel sensor and the rim.

[0018]If the proximity sensor is an inductive sensor, then it is convenient to provide an inductor, for example an electric coil, in the wheel sensor in an arrangement such that the predetermined mounting position of the wheel sensor is located especially close to the rim surface. This has the effect that, with the wheel sensor in its predetermined mounting position, the inductive resistance of the coil is clearly higher than in cases where the wheel sensor has got detached from the rim and is more remote from the rim base.

Problems solved by technology

It is not possible to check visually if the sensor is still fastened correctly or if it has got detached from the rim in the course of time.

Although it is practically excluded for the wheel sensor to come off the tire, having been screwed to the tire valve in the known manner, screwing a wheel sensor to the tire valve presents a disadvantage insofar as a tire valve of special design is needed, which is more expensive than a conventional tire valve, and in addition a special screw with a through bore is needed, which is more expensive as well.

If that should happen, the sensor would be flung against the tire inside, by the centrifugal force produced by the driving motion, and would stay there as long as the vehicle continues to move rapidly, or if it reduces its speed, would roll about in an uncontrolled fashion inside the tire, which could damage or destroy the wheel sensor and / or the tire if this condition should persist for some time.

This proposal is, however, connected with the disadvantage that temperature and acceleration variations occur not only when the wheel sensor gets detached from the rim, but also as a function of the driving style, the road conditions and the moving state of the vehicle, even with the wheel sensor firmly held in place.

If the wheel sensor comes off the rim shortly after the vehicle has started to move, it will not be possible to detect that condition by temperature measurements.

If accelerating signals are observed, it may be difficult to differentiate between atypical acceleration and acceleration changes occurring in the normal course of driving.

Further, when the vehicle is moving at rapid speed, it may be difficult to recognize as atypical a stable acceleration signal provided by a wheel sensor which has got detached from the rim and which at that time is retained on the tire inside by centrifugal force.

The proposals known from WO 03 / 011617, therefore, may lead on the one hand to a false alarm and, on the other hand, to a wheel sensor which may have got detached from the rim being detected not early enough to prevent damage.

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